Rep. Courtney and HASC Ranking Member Hunter Team to Double Submarine Production Beginning in 2010

Press Release

Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) and House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Duncan Hunter (R-CA) joined together to offer a bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would authorize an increase of funding for the Virginia class submarine program to $722 million.

Click here to listen to the first portion of the full HASC hearing. Relevant discussion begins at approximately 1 hr 00 min 00 seconds.

"While the appropriations process has a long way to go, this is a truly bipartisan show of force in support of the Virginia-class submarine program," stated Courtney. "I thank Ranking Member Hunter for his support of this important amendment and I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with him as we advocate on both sides of the aisle to further bolster the Virginia-class program and the future of our submarine force."

Last week, Congressman Courtney offered an amendment during the Seapower Subcommittee markup of the NDAA to increase funding by $300 million and would move construction of an additional submarine secured last year from 2011 to 2010, allowing for a staggered build rate of 2-1-2 between 2010 and 2012. The Hunter-Courtney amendment, passed today on a unanimous and bipartisan voice vote, would allow for sustained construction of two submarines a year in both in 2010 and 2011.

Hunter is the former Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The Hunter-Courtney amendment was strongly support by Representatives Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), J. Randy Forbes (R-VA), and Robert Wittman (R-VA) whose districts all play a key role in submarine production.

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